Taking Hikers up Pu'u Ma'eli'eli

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 Pu’u Ma’eli’eli – December 21, 2012

Today would be fun. Last time I joined the moms and their children of the Kapolei hiking club was when I led them on Lower Lulumahu falls hike back in March. There were 26 people on that hike, 9 adults and 17 children. Let’s say that hike was hard to lead as I was the only one who knew the route, also having 26 people stay together and not go astray wasn’t too easy. This time, we were going to do Pu’u Ma’eli’eli, a route much easier to lead, but more cardio intensive.



Like always, the ladies meet at Kapolei Rec. Center at 8am. Raquel, Chavee, & Evy are the mainstays of the group, they usually coordinate the hikes. Today, I was the guest guide. There were 14 of us on this day, 6 adults and 8 children. From the rec. center, we drove off to the Kahalu’u McDonald’s. When you hike with many children, you have to be really patient. Not all children are on the same page. Why? Because hiking is like work! You have to expend a lot of energy going up the mountain and then expend energy going down the mountain, something kids don’t prefer. After we got ready, we all walked on foot onto Kahakili Hwy. and to the Pu’u Ma’eli’eli trailhead.

The hike started out muddy making the uphill hike slippery. The mountain is steep, but everyone did well. At a little over 1 hour, we hit the first pillbox. The kids wanted to go down, but I told them no. Especially if you are with boys, they don’t like the word no and try to find ways around it, but I stayed firm and told them there are more pillboxes ahead.

Unfortunately, a homeless guy was at the second pillbox and some other people with machetes, bow and arrows and a birthday cake was in the third pillbox. There were other people starting an open fire on a side trail near the pillbox. Yuck! We outnumbered all of them and chose to dominate the lookout. The view is one of the best on the island. The panorama is just as good as any I’ve seen. We spent about 45 minutes at the lookout, before heading back to the first pillbox. I told the kids they can play inside. Try having 8 children running around in a small pillbox, madness I tell you! 

The hike culminated at McDonald’s where we all ate extra value and happy meals. 


me and the Kapolei moms

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